Three Weeks, Two Marathons, One Chronic Illness

Motivation

I’m not talking the motivation that gets me out the door at 5:45 AM. That’s fairly east, except when it 81 that early like it was today. I’m talking about what motivates me to run three half-marathons and hopefully a full marathon in May 2008. Really, what motivates me in general.

Part of it is the “life is too short” theory. Nobody knows how long they will live, chronic illness or not. I do things that I want to be good at, and that interest me. My high school music career (trumpet, if you want to know), my life as a research patient for CF (I’m a science/engineering geek), my Aikido (I love Aikido, I really do), and of course my running. I love them all and really enjoy them all in different ways.

I’m also motivated to stay as healthy and independent as I can for as long as I can. And, if you look at all four items above, they all move toward that goal. I’m also motivated to stay healthy for my wife, Kristen, and my kids, Michael and Katie. They deserve to have me around and in good shape as long as I can be.

Then there is the motivation of teaching people or, as some would say, proving people wrong. There are many people, most of them are parents of newly diagnosed CF kids, that think CF is a death sentence. I like to show them that this is just not true. I’m healthier than most CF Patients, and than most of my friends and family. I’m the baby of 13, and am probably the 2nd or 3rd most healthy. Not bad. I’ve also been able, via my running and my Aikido, to show people that the chronically ill can do anything they want.

Ok, maybe Lance Armstrong does it better than I do. Of course, he’s got a ton of money and he’s famous. Heck, I could run a sub 3 Hour Marathon if I had all those elites pacing me, and nothing but time to train. But, I’m a close second, at least in my book.

Along that same line, I’m motivated to help raise money for CF. I’m not going to say toward a cure, because I just don’t know when/if that will happen. But, I will say that the CF Foundation has been able to significantly increase the quality and quantity of life for the 30,000 CF Patients in the US. The Foundation does a great job, but the disease is still seen as a children’s disease, even though the average life span is about 37 years. We need the money as much as anyone. And, the adult programs need more, because we get such a small portion of the pie.

Last night, I emailed the Flying Pig Marathon committee and asked to do a blog for them on my experiences. I at least got a reply. If I am selected, it will probably motivate me to train as hard as I can. Some say I should just shoot to finish, but I don’t think that’s enough of a challenge. I know that if I train with the Team for Life, and really put in the time, I will finish. So, I’ll have to set a time goal or something. Blogging for the Pig would be great, but I think it’s a long shot. But, you can’t win if you don’t play.

Sorry for the long post, just felt like “talking” tonight. Thanks for reading.